Books are more than doorstops?

Sandman Slim.

I’ll tell you upfront that the novel Sandman Slim doesn’t bring much that’s really new to the table. In fact, if you’re familiar with the characters of John Constantine, Cal McDonald, and Hellboy, or if you’ve read the Nightside novels by Simon Green or The Dresden Files by John Butcher, then you’ve seen this kind of thing before. Basically, it’s a tale of the typical hard-boiled, sarcastic, magic-user who has to deal with supernatural forces. It’s been done many times in the past, and it’ll be done many times in the future.

HOWEVER . . . in the case of Sandman Slim it’s done well, and it’s done with style. Not to mention some great dialogue.

James Stark, the main character of Sandman Slim, was originally part of a Los Angeles-based group of magicians. But then his friends betrayed James for demonic power, killed James’s girlfriend and sent him to hell while he was still alive. James spent the next 11 years surviving as first a gladiator and then a hitman in hell, before finally making his way back to Earth. As you might imagine, James came back pissed, and he soon goes after the former-friends who sold him out.

James’s weapons in his quest are assorted magic spells, fire-arms, and a hell-forged weapon called a na’at. It’s a spear-like thing that extends into different sizes and shapes, and man, I want one for Christmas.

Anyway, while James is killing his way through L.A., he uncovers a larger conspiracy that involves angels, demons, and other unearthly creatures. There’s also the problem that his final target is allied with uber-powerful “anti-angels” called Kissi. Which might seem like an odd name for things that get off on human suffering, but so it goes.

So yes, this might be the kind of plot you’d expect in a role-playing game or a sci-fi channel movie, but it works here. And writer Richard Kadrey packs Sandman Slim with enough wit and dark-humor to satisfy even the most discerning genre fans.

All in all, it’s a fast-paced, satisfying, B-movie of a novel. Take a look if you’re in the mood for humor, violence, and dark urban-fantasy.


- Nate